The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 14, 2002
Filed:
Jun. 22, 2000
Giovanni Galli, Galati Marina, IT;
STMicroelectronics S.r.l., Agrate Brianza, IT;
Abstract
The invention relates to a ground-compatible inhibit circuit structure and method, for circuits integrated in a semiconductor substrate which is unrelated to ground potential. The circuit structure is integrated in the same substrate as an associated circuit to be inhibited, and the substrate is covered with an epitaxial layer accommodating the components of the inhibit circuit structure. It includes a stable internal voltage reference and a circuit portion for comparing this reference with an inhibit signal in order to block the associated circuit upon a predetermined threshold value being exceeded, even in a condition of the signal potential being higher than the supply potential to the circuit. Advantageously, the epitaxial layer of each well is always at a potential higher than or equal to that of the substrate.